Hauled: Givenchy & Eyeko!

I've almost completely hit pan on the coral shade from this YSL shadow duo and as replacement decided to go for Chic Coral from Givenchy's Le Prisme Yeux Mono eyeshadow range.

Like its YSL predecessor the packaging on this shadow is just amazing - I love the mirrored logo to the top and that the case has a magnetic rather than clasp closure - it closes with a luxuriously satisfying clunk!

The compact features a single colour shadow but with four different textures to allow you to create a multidimensional look with just one product - there's a matte shadow, two levels of pearl finish and a 'sequined' one (aka glittery-ish!)

I wasn't really able to capture the different textures in the picture but here's a shot anyway :) I haven't included any swatches either as it barely shows up on my hands which are slightly tanned from the recent sunshine!

The shadow costs £20 but I managed to get a couple of pounds off as part of Debenhams' Easter Extravaganza event.

Another recent purchase is Eyeko's Big Eyes Mascara. This is my first try of Eyeko products and I'm impressed so far (with the customer service & delivery anyway!)

I love the fact that this mascara comes in a squeezy tube - can imagine it makes it easier to get as much of the product out as possible. The brush is also a new venture for me as its so tiny...

....will let you know how I get on! The mascara was £8.95 from Eyeko's website (delivery is free!)

Until next time,

Swatched: Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow

I got this Max Factor eyeshadow duo stick thingy free when I bought their False Lash Effect Fusion mascara (reviewed a few posts back)

The eyeshadow features a double ended crayon designed to make the infamous 'smoky eye' look easier to create.  I picked it up in the shade Onyx which is a silvery white/black duo.

The lighter crayon is rounded so you can apply it across the whole lid whilst the darker shade is tapered (like a lipstick) so you can precisely define the eye. When swatched the silver/white has a frost finish whilst the black shade features (quite large) chunks of glitter.
 

The consistency of the shadows is easy to blend but it does feel slightly greasy to the touch which may not bode well for lasting power. I'm unlikely to find out for sure though as the colours really aren't my cup of tea (this was the only colourway they had left in my teeny local Boots) Also as mentioned here I'm not exactly glitter's biggest fan either but hope the swatches are of use all the same!

The stick retails at £7.99 or is free for a limited time when you buy certain Max Factor mascaras.

Until next time,

Reviewed: YSL Ombres Duolumières Eyeshadow Duo in Pearly Peach/Mink Brown

What they say....

"Playing on the alchemy of contrasts, the DUOLUMIERES Eye Shadows combine colour and luminosity to adorn your eyelids with vibrant harmonies. Thanks to an optical smoothing effect each shade fully expresses its intensity and brilliance".



What I say....

I've been using (and loving) this elf quad as my everyday eyeshadow for quite a few months now. The peachy shade is a fab all-over-lid colour which does mean I hit pan on it far sooner than any of the other shadows in the set. My current one chose to completely run out the day before Christmas Eve so whilst in town picking up a final few Xmas pressies I set about trying to find a dupe and was drawn to the YSL's Duolumières eyeshadow duo in No.23 (Pearly Peach/Mink Brown) - or more specifically the pearly peach half!

Packaging  

YSL packaging is undeniably luxurious and this compact in all its shiny gold glory is no exception. The weighty metal case houses a good-sized mirror along with two brushes - your bog standard shadow one and a teeny tiny one to allow you to apply shadow as liner. I love how the YSL logo is embossed into the shadows...makes it almost too pretty to use. But for 27 quid use it I must.....

Product 

As the name of this duo suggests it contains a mid peach and a minky grey/brown shadow both with hints of subtle shimmer. The colour payoff is ok but not spectacular - I'd go as far as to say its comparable to my beloved Elf one! The texture of these shadows is however far superior. Their creamy texture means they blend well with no fall-out. Lasting power is good - no better or worse than Elf if worn with a decent primer (I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance)



The duo in action - pearly peach all over the lid and mink brown on the outer crease



Price £27.00

Would I repurchase? As a rule I'm more of a high-street rather than high-end girl when it comes to make-up and this is the most expensive eyeshadow duo I have ever bought. (I actually felt a bit sick when the MUA ran it through the till!) Whilst I'll enjoy using it up I'm not as blown away by this as I would like to be for the price. And when I think that the Urban Decay Naked palette was £1 cheaper for 6 times as much product I sadly can't justify spending so much again on two little shadows.

Would I recommend? If budget is no question then I'd recommend this duo if only the for the feel good factor that the packaging alone brings. However if you usually buy high-end I'd really encourage you to give cheaper brands a whirl - there is, in my opinion, great quality to be had for significantly less cash!

Until next time,

Swatched: Maybelline Diamond Glow Eyestudio in Bronze Drama

I was scouring the cosmetic aisles of Boots recently for a khaki green eyeshadow and spotted this quad from Maybelline's 'Eyestudio Diamond Glow' range.

Bronze Drama doesn't actually contain a bronze shadow but insteads consists of a khaki green shadow (obviously!) nestled alongside a creamy off-white, vibrant copper and light charcoal grey. As the 'diamond glow' part of this product's name suggests, each of the shadows have a fine glitter running through them.



With flash

Without flash

The glitter hasn't shown up that well on the pics but I can assure you its there and gives just the right amount of twinkle to allow the colours work during the day or night. It doesn't make for a grainy texture at all either and all the shadows apply smoothly and blend well. 



Close up to show the glittery-ness

The quad retails at £7.19 in Boots. If you're tempted, you'll be happy to hear its currently available on their website with £2 off :)

Until next time,





Swatched: Famous by Sue Moxley Eyeshadow Palette in Cafe Culture

Famous is a make up range created by beauty journalist and TV presenter Sue Moxley. According to her webiste the Famous collection is 'designed to give a touch of red carpet sparkle but without the A-list prices'.

The range has apparently been exclusively available in Superdrug stores since 2007 although I have to admit I haven't really noticed it until a few weekends ago when her stand caught my eye and in particular the range of eyeshadow 'collections'. The one I snapped up is called Cafe Culture - a quad palette of brown/grey metallics which set me back £9.

I haven't yet tried the palette out fully but initial impressions when I swatched them for this post are pretty impressive. The generously sized shadows are heavily pigmented and have a lovely buttery soft consistency which makes for easy blending.



Without flash



With flash

The finish on all the shadows is very shimmery which I appreciate may be a negative if you prefer to rock the natural look. I personally need quite bold eyeshadow shades to make my eyes even slightly noticeable so the shimmer levels are perfect...the darkest shade even has a gorgeous khaki green duochrome finish :) And although I probably won't use it even the applicator is pretty good quality, its made of a dense almost rubbery material rather than the usual cheap and nasty foamy sponge.

All this for only £2.25 per shadow??....Not bad going at all!

Until next time,

Reviewed: Elf Brightening Eyecolour Quad in Butternut

What they say....

"Luxuriously smooth, corn silk formula provides eyes with a neutral base and an awakened brightness".

What I say....

Packaging Seriously no frills - lots of cheap plastic and the sponge applicator is as rubbish as you would expect. The case does feature a mirror underneath where the applicator is stored but its so tiny I can just about see one eyebrow in it!

Product Given the price I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the shadows in this quad. The pigmentation is pretty good (as the swatch pic below shows the peach shade doesn't really show up particularly well on my NC30 skin but that's fine as it makes a great, all over base colour) 


Swatched on bare skin

The texture of the shadows is also fairly smooth if a little on the chalky side and although it doesn't show in the picture, the cream and peach shades are also quite glittery. I personally don't mind a bit of shimmer in my eye make up but it may be a little too much if you're after a totally natural look.

Results The pic below shows these shadows in action and whilst I'm not sure my eye looks particularly 'brightened' as the claim suggests, I love how the colours look on. I've been wearing the quad using the peach shade all over the lid, the darkest brown shade in the outer crease and the creamy beige as a highlight. Worn over some UDPP the shadows blend well and last pretty much all day :)

Price £1.50

Would I repurchase? Absolutely - this is a great value, neutral daytime quad.

Would I recommend? Yes at £1.50 a pop you can afford not to like it!

Until next time,